User Equipment Access Network Selection via ANDSF and RAN Rule Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in properly integrating access network selection methods across different levels, leading to potential failures in fulfilling intersystem mobility policies configured by mobile communication network operators.
Innovation Solution
A communication system comprising a communication station and user equipment that stores and transmits ANDSF and RAN rules, allowing the user equipment to select and prioritize access networks based on validity conditions, thereby ensuring compliance with both ANDSF and RAN rules for efficient traffic steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both ANDSF and RAN access network selection methods are applied simultaneously, then interworking performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access network selection process into two distinct rule sets: ANDSF rules for core network level selection and RAN rules for radio access network level selection. Each rule set operates with its own validity conditions and prioritization logic, allowing independent processing and integration without conflating the two selection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested rule evaluation structure where RAN rules are evaluated within the context of ANDSF rule selections. The control circuit first processes ANDSF rules to determine candidate networks, then applies RAN rules as additional filtering and prioritization layers, creating a hierarchical nested evaluation system.
2Measurement precision
If the user equipment scans all available access networks, then network selection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary filtering using ANDSF rule validity conditions and prioritized network lists before performing detailed network assessments. The control circuit pre-identifies candidate networks that meet basic criteria, then focuses scanning and evaluation resources only on these pre-selected candidates rather than all available networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial scanning by focusing evaluation efforts on networks identified in prioritized lists rather than exhaustively scanning all available access networks. The RAN rule validation is applied selectively to candidate networks from the prioritized list, performing sufficient but not excessive scanning to achieve accurate selection while conserving energy.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment of a communication system includes a first communication circuit configured to operably receive ANDSF rule set and RAN rule transmitted from a communication station; a second communication circuit; and a control circuit configured to operably: select a target ANDSF rule out of the ANDSF rule set; determine whether the user equipment fulfills all validity conditions of the target ANDSF rule; select a target access network out of a prioritized network list defined by the target ANDSF rule if all validity conditions of the target ANDSF rule are fulfilled; determine whether the target access network fulfills all validity conditions of the RAN rule if the target access network is present; and control the second communication circuit to steer traffic specified in the target ANDSF rule or traffic specified in the RAN rule to a target access point of the target access network.